Using Parallels for the first time

I haven’t used a PC for a long time but I really need to test some websites I’m working on. Screenshots aren’t enough as I need to test how the javascript animations look on different browsers.

I’ve downloaded Parallels free trial and now need to get a windows OS. My question is, which one is best to test with, given I only want to test IE7/8/9, FF and Chrome. And where’s the best place to purchase Windows OS?

Thanks for your help, hope I have the right forum.:slight_smile:
Cheers

Hi whatachamp. Presumably you are on a Mac? I use VMWare on mine, but either that or Parallels (or the free VirtualBox) is good. You’ll need a recent version of Windows to run IE9 (Win 7, possibly Vista—I’m not sure). But I’m not sure if IE7 can run on Win 7 (someone else will have to confirm), but I think it only runs on older OSes, which is a pain (although its [URL=“http://www.sitepoint.com/browser-trends-may-2012/”]market share is down to about 2% now). One thing you can do in IE9 is switch to older version renderings … meaning that you can test IE8 and IE7 in IE9. I don’t think it’s 100% accurate, but it’s pretty good.

At the moment, I have WinXP and Win7 loaded on my Mac, which is pretty ridiculous. It has allowed me to test IE6 and IE7 natively, as well as older versions of Outlook and Express, but I’m keen to delete the whole XP VMs at this point, as I hardly check them any more.

Thanks ralphh.m, yup I’m on a Mac. I’m also going to try vmware.
There is Windows 8 now - so maybe I should get that? and just test IE8 and IE9. Thanks for the browser share link, very useful.

Anybody know where I can purchase Windows 8 for a virtual testing setup?

Thanks

O, right. Might as well get Win 8, I guess. On IE9 you can test previous versions, as I said, which is probably adequate … especially given that IE6 and 7 are all but dead now, for practical porpoises.

Anybody know where I can purchase Windows 8 for a virtual testing setup?

Great question! I’ve never found any option but to buy the whole thing. :frowning:

You need to be aware that Windows 8, will come with IE10 and you cannot downgrade that. Windows 7, comes with IE8 and can be upgraded to IE9/10. Windows 8 is also not yet released its currently in the Consumer Preview Stage. In any case the cheapest means of buying a copy of Windows purely for testing would be OEM copies.

At Newegg, Windows 7 Home, $99. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

If you are a student you can get Windows 7 a lot cheaper.
Windows 7 Pro, $65. http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/en_US/pd/Windows-7-Professional-Upgrade/productID.216644200

  • If you are just testing, there is no need to activate Windows. Don’t enter the activation key. Windows 7 can be rearmed three times for about 90 to 120 days of use before you need to reinstall. That way you don’t throw away a perfectly good activation key.

Alternatively, you can use the time-bombed virtual images Microsoft provides for testing web sites. These can be converted to VMware, VirtualBox, etc. Can get them here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=11575 * It is important you read everything on this page completely.